Study of cryostructuring of polymer systems: 23. Composite poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels filled with dispersed particles containing ionogenic groups

Composite poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels containing particles of cross-linked dextran gels (Sephadexes and their ion-exchange derivatives with different ionogenic groups) as fillers were prepared and studied. It was shown that mechanical and thermal-physical properties of such composites were affected by the presence of ionogenic groups on the particles of dispersed fillers: as the ionite concentration increases, less rigid (than in the case of unmodified Sephadex particles) filled cryogels were formed. The properties of composite cryogels depend on the nature and concentration of counterion added with the ionite. Substantial increase in the rigidity and melting point of composites was observed when using strong anionites in the OH–-form and strong cationites in the H+-form as fillers.